Tree City USA

City of McVille Celebrated
Arbor Day May 13, 2016

The City of McVille celebrated their 19th Annual Arbor Day on May 13, 2016. The ceremony began in the City Park at 1 pm. Mayor Doug Stein opened the event by the reading of the Tree City Proclamation. Shade Tree Members Dennis Stenson, Jerry Sand, Don Stein, Renae Arneson and Richard Urvand hosted the event open to the public and was well attended.

Dakota Prairie 5th grade class together with teacher Stacy Luehring joined the celebration and enjoyed an informational program presented by Gerri MacKay of the North Dakota Community Forestry Program. She led the group in identifying tree species, diseases and proper pruning techniques.

Every year the McVille Shade Tree Committee honors someone from the community who has made a significant impact on the City in regard to development of community forestry and the park system. This year's honoree was Wayne Ressler. He is the 7th Tree City Honoree chosen for this award.

Wayne Ressler has served on the McVille Park District for 38 years. Those years include 1974-1983, and 1989 to current year 2016. Wayne has selflessly served as secretary/treasurer for a number of those years. As a member of the Park District he has received little compensation for all his time and supervision and it only seemed proper to honor him in this manner. Through these years Wayne has been part of the complete development of the Football field, the bathrooms and dugouts at the McVille Baseball/Softball Diamond, establishment of the paved bike/running path in 1980 that leads from the east edge of the City to the McVille Dam, development of the McVille Dam and Campground with camping spots, picnic shelters, playground equipment, asphalt paving, and worked with the Shade Tree Committee and fellow Park District members to plant several windbreaks around the various recreational areas. In the past, it was not unusual to see Wayne or his family members maintaining the Park District equipment.

Wayne and his wife Kathy have lived in McVille since 1968, except in 1984-89 when they resided in Arizona. They raised 5 children, Rick, Rodney, Allen, Rory and Amanda. The Resslers own and operate Ressler Storage Facility on Felton Ave, Cedar Ridge Apartments, and a 4-unit Ressler Apartment Complex on Olsgard St. Wayne and Kathy owned and operated Ressler Super Valu for 11 years. Wayne has now worked for Berg Insurance of McVille for 26 years.

A Discovery Elm Tree was planted in Wayne's honor at the McVille Dam. He will join other honorees that include Robert Bunde, Silas Engebretson, Marvin Hildre, Donald Swenseth, Sherman Quanbeck and Clifford Sateren.

Following the ceremony the group enjoyed refreshments sponsored by the City of McVille and served by Joanne Brennan, Deputy City Auditor.

McVille was also honored at a Horticultural Tour held at the NDSU Research Center in Carrington June 10th. Members Silas Engebretson, Clifford Sateren, and Renae Arneson attended with Mayor Stanley and his wife, Sharon, and Mrs. Lorene Sateren.